i liked Haywire. i even watched it again last year. i think it worked because Soderbergh worked/shot around her weaknesses and played to her strengths: her physicality, her narrow but effective range of facial expressions (pained, warm, calm/assertive), etc. it's a fun movie.

her character in Mando was typical star wars with disney campy-smug, so being a hack cheeseball isn't a dealbreaker. kinda funny that she was opposite Pedro, but i guess if you keep him in a mask for all their scenes, it's harder for him to eat all her scenes for lunch. but i watched another action flick with her as lead (In The Blood) and it was pretty obvious how limited she is outside of giving a knowing smirk, hitting or taking hits.

she is definitely someone who could have only ever been a big action star as part of a well-oiled machine of marquee talents working specifically to elevate her. what an absolute idiot to throw it all away to go make utility grade slop with the third stringers of the Salt Lake City A/V club.